Incarcerated Family Analysis
Having an incarcerated family member increases the likelihood of incarceration among high school teenagers. The independent variable is incarcerated family members. The dependent variable is the likelihood of incarceration. The units of analysis are high school teenagers.
Theory:
Gottfredson and Hirschi’s low self-control theory states that children who have low self-control are more likely to develop criminal behavior and commit crimes in the future. These children who have low levels of self-control are very impulsive and only think about what they want at that moment no matter the consequences. By not thinking about what consequences may result from their actions, it is very simple to conclude that their levels of low self-control can …show more content…
Since we did not randomly assign the groups, we cannot say with certainty that the incarcerated family member does increase the likelihood of incarceration of high school teenagers. Even though it may seem like there is not a third variable, since the groups were not randomly selected, there may be one within the groups. By not being able to randomly assigning people to the two groups, it increases the threats to internal validity. The two groups are not statistically equivalent, so the differences that may be seen after the treatment can be due to a pre-existing difference between the two. One would not be able to say with 100% certainty that the differences between the groups is because of having an incarcerated family member since we are assigning, and not randomizing, people to groups. We are looking at families who have had an incarcerated family member, versus those who do not have an incarcerated family …show more content…
We would be able to ask questions on how they feel about the crimes they are committing, and we could see if they feel desensitized to crime, and if low self-control has a prevalent part in why they are committing crimes. By being able to look at their own perception of why they are committing delinquent acts and their justification of it, and then look at the other group of teenagers who do not have low self-control and see what they feel about crime. Looking at the perception and attitudes of the two groups is very important because we would be able to see if the differences between the two is if the parent’s had instilled good values and self-control in the children or
Theory:
Gottfredson and Hirschi’s low self-control theory states that children who have low self-control are more likely to develop criminal behavior and commit crimes in the future. These children who have low levels of self-control are very impulsive and only think about what they want at that moment no matter the consequences. By not thinking about what consequences may result from their actions, it is very simple to conclude that their levels of low self-control can …show more content…
Since we did not randomly assign the groups, we cannot say with certainty that the incarcerated family member does increase the likelihood of incarceration of high school teenagers. Even though it may seem like there is not a third variable, since the groups were not randomly selected, there may be one within the groups. By not being able to randomly assigning people to the two groups, it increases the threats to internal validity. The two groups are not statistically equivalent, so the differences that may be seen after the treatment can be due to a pre-existing difference between the two. One would not be able to say with 100% certainty that the differences between the groups is because of having an incarcerated family member since we are assigning, and not randomizing, people to groups. We are looking at families who have had an incarcerated family member, versus those who do not have an incarcerated family …show more content…
We would be able to ask questions on how they feel about the crimes they are committing, and we could see if they feel desensitized to crime, and if low self-control has a prevalent part in why they are committing crimes. By being able to look at their own perception of why they are committing delinquent acts and their justification of it, and then look at the other group of teenagers who do not have low self-control and see what they feel about crime. Looking at the perception and attitudes of the two groups is very important because we would be able to see if the differences between the two is if the parent’s had instilled good values and self-control in the children or